Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program

In 1981, the Saint Louis Psychoanalytic Institute launched the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program for mental health professionals. It provides a combination of didactic classroom material along with twice-weekly clinical consultation groups. This affords each student an exceptional opportunity to apply theory to clinical work, and greatly facilitates their evolution as psychotherapists. The American Psychoanalytic Association describes the program as “a model for psychoanalytic institutes across the country.”

The Educational Program

Purpose

The Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program (APP) provides mental health professionals with theoretical and clinical training in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy. APP and former APP program graduates use their training for counseling and brief treatment applications, as well as intensive psychotherapies.

Course Description

The Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program is a two-year postgraduate training program combining classroom education and direct clinical consultation groups. Classes meet from 6:00 to 8:40 p.m. on Monday evenings during the academic year in a hybrid format at the Institute, 7700 Clayton Road, Suite 200, Saint Louis, MO 63117, or online (Zoom). Each student also meets twice weekly for small group consultations of their own clinical cases. Supervisors offer a variety of current psychoanalytic clinical perspectives. Faculty and supervisors are experienced psychoanalysts affiliated with the Saint Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.

Curriculum

The foundation for the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program curriculum consists of courses in human development across the lifespan, infancy through adulthood, as well as classes on basic theory and clinical technique. Topics include:

Normal Development

• Infancy and the early years
• Latency and adolescence
• Adulthood and aging

Psychodynamic Concepts and Theories

• Introduction to psychoanalytic theory
• Perspectives in contemporary psychoanalytic psychology: ego psychology, object relations theory, and self-psychology

Clinical Technique

• Evaluation, Diagnosis, Treatment Plans
• Beginning Phase, Middle Phase, Termination
• Theory and Process of Therapy

Clinical Disorders

• Anxiety, Affective Disorders
• Personality Disorders & Character Problems
• Borderline & Narcissistic Disorders

Special Topics

• Addictions
• Brief Dynamic Treatment Models
• Diversity
• Dreams
• Emerging Adulthood
• Ethics
• How Child and Adolescent Training Informs Adult Treatment
• Neuroscience
• Parent Work in Child Treatment
• Research: Efficacy & Effectiveness of Psychodynamic Treatment
• Suicide
• Trauma and Dissociative Disorders

Eligibility

This program is open to licensed mental health professionals and graduate students in accredited clinical programs, including those in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, professional counseling, psychiatric nursing, and related clinical disciplines.

Continuing Education

Continuing education credit is available for licensed mental health professionals, including psychologists, physicians, social workers, and professional counselors. For complete accreditation information and credit designations, see the Continuing Education and Accreditation page.

How to Apply

Questions? Please email Program Director Becky Pastor at b.pastor@stlpi.org or email recruitment@stlpi.org.

Apply online: Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Program Application

Complete the online application and submit electronically or print and mail to:

Saint Louis Psychoanalytic Institute
7700 Clayton Road, Suite 200
Saint Louis, MO 63117

Tuition and Financial Assistance

2026–2027 tuition rates are per year for the two-year program. Tuition is subject to change annually. Tuition rates are determined by application date, not acceptance date.

• Early Rate: $3,500 (apply by April 30, 2026)
• Regular Rate: $3,678 (apply by June 30, 2026)
• Late Rate: $3,941 (apply after June 30, 2026)

See the Tuition and Refund Schedule for the current refund policy.

Scholarships

Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available from the Institute. The Scholarship Committee meets twice annually.

• First Round: due by April 30, 2026
• Second Round: due by June 30, 2026

A scholarship application is included in the APP application, or visit the Scholarship Opportunities page.